This section provides a step-by-step guide on the successful establishment of new plant material from selection to planting on site.
Choice of Plants
The correct choice of plants & their specification
will not only help to achieve the desired results, but will also
ensure that money is not wasted. Although we have tried to
simplify the selection process in this Guide, the whole array of
factors needing to be considered such as climate, soil type,
growth rate & so on can often be overwhelming. For free
helpful advice, please call us on 01704-228235.
On the Nursery
The CPSE Plant Handling guidelines must be strictly
adhered to at all times. Trees, which are difficult to
transplant need to be specified with root-balls. The benefit of doing so far out-weighs the additional cost
initially incurred.
Experience has taught us that tree pruning significantly
enhances establishment & development, although the short-term
consequence of having a lighter head is a reduction in impact.
Skilful pruning on the nursery ensures that when the tree is
lifted, the root to shoot ratio remains in balance. By ensuring
this, the inevitable stress caused to the tree in transplanting
is minimised and thus it is well prepared for immediate
establishment.
From Nursery to Site
Having plants delivered on site, on the day & time required,
reduces the risk of damage, which can occur from excessive
handling, site storage & exposure.
Site conditions and Plant Handling on Site
With the plants well selected, of good quality & delivered
nursery-fresh, establishment then depends on careful site
preparation.
If planting can proceed more or less
upon delivery...
Container grown plants should be moist when received and
watered, before & on completion of planting.
Bare-rooted trees and transplants should be kept with their roots enclosed in polythene bags as
supplied, and protected from sun & wind until immediately before
planting. However, if it appears that the roots are dry, they
should be immersed in water for up to 24 hours prior to
planting. Stakes should be installed in the pits before
planting, with spacers & ties secured after the tree has been
planted.
Root-balled trees are especially prone to damage from
mishandling of the trunk, head or root-ball because of their
heavy weight. Care when handling is strongly advised, for
example, by lifting the root-ball with hooks. Slings round the
trunk are not recommended.
It is important not to disturb or break up the root-ball
during handling or planting, a reason why double rather than
single staking is a preferred option. Immediately before
planting is completed, only the tightening wires around the base
of the trunk should be loosened since this reduces the risk of
constricting future growth. In most soils, the wire root-balling
basket will disintegrate within ten to twelve months of being in
the ground.
Planting pit dimensions for trees of 12-20cm girth are, in
general, between 0.6m2 & 1m2 x 0.75m deep
with the base broken up an additional 150cm depth to improve
drainage.
If planting is delayed for more than 24 hours...
It is important to ensure that the plants are safely
stored until planting can be carried out:
In warm weather, keep plants moist & open any string-bound
heads. Unpack shrubs from cardboard boxes to prevent
over-heating and to enable watering.
In frosty weather, unpack, particularly evergreens; protect
from wind, frost & freezing.
If the site is too wet, root-balled trees will not normally
come to any harm for up to three weeks if stored upright in a
well-drained location.
Field ground trees and transplants in bags must be split up,
with their roots spread-out, and heeled-in into good
well-drained soil. In addition, the plants will need to be kept
upright and secured to prevent damage caused by rubbing.
Plant Failure – the main causes are...
- water-logging and poor drainage.
- lack of water, especially during dry springs and summers.
- planting bare-root stock when not fully dormant, that is,
either too early or too late.
